Gilbert Ihnen

Gilbert Arnold Ihnen was born January 21, 1924, near Harris, IA, the son of Henry and Florence 'Elizabeth' (Schafer) Ihnen. As a youth, his family moved to Lake Park, IA where he graduated from Lake Park High School in 1943. Gil moved with his parents to a farm near Lamberton, MN in 1946. On September 9, 1951, Gil was united in marriage to Roberta Dietz at the Friedens Ev. Reformed Church in New Ulm. The couple made their home on the family farm and purchased it from his parents in 1966, where they raised cattle and grain. Gil retired in 1989 and the couple recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in September. Gil was a member of the Sanborn United Methodist Church and served on the Administrative Board. He served on the Sanborn Elevator Board as president and director for 22 years, 18 years on the Cottonwood County Fair Board as president and director, the Southern Seven Elevator Board, the Sanborn Community Club, a bowling league, Sportsman's Club, and as a 4-H leader. Gil enjoyed substitute truck driving for Wipf Trucking and Kenny Prins. He sold Northrup King seed for many years. Gil was diagnosed and lived with Parkinsons disease for the past 15 years. Gil loved farming, dancing, telling jokes, but especially he was a proud father and grandfather and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Gilbert Ihnen died Tuesday, October 11, 2005, at Valley View Manor in Lamberton at the age of 81 years and 9 months. Survived by his loving wife- Roberta of Lamberton; children- Mark and wife Karin Ihnen of Foley, Shari and husband Paul Lindemann of Eagan, and Keith and wife Lori Ihnen of Mounds View; 6 grandchildren- Kortney Brent Ihnen, Brady Austin Lindemann, and Christina Kevin Ihnen; brothers-in-law- Wayne and wife Elizabeth Dietz, Burton and wife Betty Dietz, and Robert Schroeder; sister-in-law- Charlotte Starken; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law- Leone Palmer Bush; niece- Laree (Bush) Quade; sisters-in-law- Remona Petersen, Ruth McCrary, Bernice Engeswick and Clementine Schroeder; and brothers-in-law- Bert Albertson, Pete Petersen, Dick McCrary, Russell Engeswick and Leander Starken.